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Sacramento International Airport / SMF - the definitive thread

Old Dec 8, 2015, 10:11 am
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Last edit by: TWA884
Sacramento International Airport - SMF / KSMF
Sacramento County, California

N.B. There is a discussion and preview thread about SMF Terminal B here.

GOING TO SMF

DRIVING TO SMF VIA PRIVATE / RENTED VEHICLE

SMF is 10 miles northwest of Sacramento immediately north of Interstate 5 (connects San Diego to Seattle). (Note: there is an on-airport gasoline / petrol station for those renting from SMF.)

From San Francisco or Lake Tahoe, use I-80 to I-5 northbound (Woodland and Seattle). From Stockton use I-5 (or US 99 connecting to I-5 via I-80 westbound) northbound. From I-5 north the airport is 10 miles "southbound" (east) of Woodland. The airport is 0.5 miles north of the Interstate 5 on Airport Boulevard.

For GPS, use the address 6900 Airport Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95837

SMF / KSMF / Sacramento International Airport website: link

Exiting north from I-5, proceed according to the map:

GETTING TO AND FROM TERMINAL "A"

Follow signage and keep to Airport Boulevard East - a one way multi-lane road running counterclockwise will take you to an area you can stop and drop off or pick up passengers. Parking or stopping for any length of time to wait is prohibited; the Sheriffs are quite quick to get you to move on. A free cellular / mobile phone lot at the airport entry, west side, is the best place to stop to wait for arriving passengers to call drivers.


GETTING TO AND FROM TERMINAL "B"

Folow signage and keep to Airport Boulevard West - the new terminal includes a two level roadway, running clockwise. The upper level is for departures and the lower level serves arriving passengers and baggage claim. Passengers departing or arriving on Southwest will find it easiest to use the West side; those using all other airlines will find it easier using the East side.


GETTING AROUND SMF

Courtesy shuttle busses travel four routes: between terminals, to parking lots (daily and economy are separate) and to the rental car center. These are all accessible. One can walk or use a wheelchair between terminals, which are connected via the parking garage - but note that though the garage has a ceiling, it is not enclosed fully.


SECURITY at SMF / Sacramento International Airport

Currently, there are Priority lines at SMF - Terminal A; at Terminal B it is on your far left, separate from the non-priority queue entries. There are now TSA PreCheck queues at both SMF terminals (October 17 2013); the SMF website does offer indications of how long it is taking to transit security.

Terminal A has PreCheck,

Terminal B:
-Along the far left wall is the known crewmember checkpoint
-In the middle are two lines: PreCheck, which splits off to the left, and general boarding, which splits off to the right.
-Along the far right wall is the Premier/First Class/Business Select/etc line.

For international arrivals there are now Global Entry kiosks.


PARKING

Parking varies considerably, from the parking garage to "economy" lots; best thing for current information is to visit the SMF parking map and click on the appropriate garage / lot number for current rates.

"Cell phone lot" / waiting area: This area offers free parking for a short period of time for occupied vehicles whose occupants are waiting for passengers, who can call them when they arrive. This allows comfortable waiting within five minutes of any terminal, without causing congestion (and inviting a ticket from the officers patrolling the arrivals area, where waiting is not permitted).


TRANSPORTATION to/from SMF / Sacramento International Airport

TAXIS (SITOA airport authorized taxis at SMF) in Sacramento charge
  • $3 flag drop, $2.50 for each additional mile
  • Rate to wait is $25 per hour
  • One way SMF to Sacramento downtown is $33.00
  • Round-trip between SMF and downtown Sacramento is $66.00
  • Waiting is charged at $25 hourly
  • Seniors and military personnel are eligible for a 20% discount
  • Uber is $20 SMF - downtown
  • SMF - Roseville approx. $80
  • See SMF TaxiFareFinder for more fares


To / from the Arden area, 12 miles, approximately:
  • Bus Service 17.00 USD
  • Limousine 75.00 USD
  • SuperShuttle (Executive Premier Limo Inc.)
  • Rental Car 40.00 USD
  • Taxi 50.00 USD
    These prices are approximate.


From downtown, 10 miles, approximately:
  • YoloBus Bus Service $2.00 USD
  • Limousine 85.00 USD
  • SuperShuttle (Executive Premier Limo Inc.)
  • Taxi 35.00 USD
  • Uber, $20.00 USD


SHUTTLE SERVICE

SuperShuttle serves Sacramento International Airport via Executive Premier Limo Inc. The options offered are non-stop shuttle vans, not shared rides, and black car service.

BUS

Sacramento, Davis and Woodland, Yolo County

Yolo County Transportation District's Yolobus offers two routes, 42A (clockwise) and 42B (counterclockwise) that connect SMF to Sacramento, Davis and Woodland (clockwise) and the reverse. Service is approximately hourly beginning at 5:24 AM and ending at 10:22 PM at SMF. PDF schedules etc. here, and fares and passes information is here.

These also offer the option of connecting with AMTRAK's California Capitol services to the SF Bay area at the Davis or Sacramento AMTRAK stations. Check here and here for California Capitol schedules, ticket prices, etc.

Sacramento Regional Transit District serves Sacramento International Airport as of January, 2020 via SacRTs Airport Express Bus, Route 142, offering direct service between downtown Sacramento and Terminals A and B. Route 142 operates every 60 minutes, seven days a week. The current operating hours are between 5:15am (first downtown departure) and 10:33pm (last airport departure). They hope to restore the service to every 30 minutes on August 28, 2022. The fare is $2.50 for a single ride, $1.25 for discounted eligible riders and free for students in grades TK through 12.


RENTAL CARS and FUEL

All rental car companies at Sacramento International Airport are located at the central rental car terminal. Take the Rental Car Terminal Shuttle busses for acccess to all on-airport rental car agencies listed:

Rental Car Agencies
  • Advance Rent A Car ** (916) 442-1362
  • Alamo (800) 327-9633
  • Avis (916) 922-5601
  • Budget (800) 763-2999
  • Dollar (800) 800-4000
  • Enterprise (800) 736-8227
  • Hertz (800) 654-3131
  • National (800) 227-7366
  • Payless Car Rental ** (800) 729-5377


* *Off airport fleet

Gasoline Station

There is an ARCO station near the entrance to the airport, #22 on the map, to top up your rental vehicle.


AIRPORT LOUNGES AT SMF

Each terminal has an Escape Lounge, accessible by membership, $43.10 per person fee or American Express Platinum Card members (who may guest in up to two others)


LODGING NEAR SMF

The Host Airport Hotel at Sacramento International Airport (across from the old Terminal B complex) closed July 31, 2008, to make way for the new Terminal B construction. A new 135 room Hyatt Place was to be built adjacent to the parking garage, but that may not happen. In the meantime:

Several hotels do provide complimentary shuttle services to / from SMF airport.

Hotels providing shuttle services include
  • Fairfield Inn & Suites 10 miles
  • Four Points by Sheraton 8 miles
  • Hampton Inn 7 miles (N. Natomas)
  • Hampton Inn - Woodland 10 miles
  • Holiday Inn Express 7 miles (N. Natomas)
  • Hilton Garden Inn S. Natomas 11 miles (my go-to hotel, free overnight and ~up to 10 days parking, free hourly airport shuttle)
  • Homewood Suites by Hilton - 7 miles (N. Natomas)
  • La Quinta Inn 11 miles
  • Quality Inn Natomas 12 miles
  • Ramada Limited 11 miles
  • Vagabond Executive 12 miles



OTHER AIRPORT SERVICES

Lost and Found"The Sacramento County Sheriffs Department, Airport Division manages the lost and found program at Sacramento International Airport. Please visit the Lost & Found Web page to report your lost item. Please call (916) 874.0701 and leave a detailed message concerning your lost object. The Sheriffs frequently listen to these messages and will return your call if they have the object. If the item has been lost on board an aircraft, please contact your airline directly."

Paging "Paging is managed by the Sacramento International Airport Communications Center. Please call (916) 929.5411 and press the appropriate prompt key to reach the operator."

WiFi / Wireless Internet - FlySacramento is the net name you should use. You will be required to watch a brief advert for free WiFi."Sacramento International Airport has free wireless Internet (WiFi) service throughout the indoor, public areas of the airport. SMFs Wi-Fi network has 4 T1 connection, which provides users with speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps. The Wi-Fi 802.11b/g technology allows for speeds up to 54 Mbps, but throughput is governed by the speed at which the device is connected."

Contact Information:

Sacramento International Airport
6900 Airport Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95837
(916) 929.5411
air-market <at> saccounty.net

Pilot Information link

Airport FAQ link

Typical Nonstop Destinations from SMF will change) (Use SMF Flight Search for more information)Atlanta, GA
Baltimore, MD
Boise, ID
Burbank, CA
Charlotte, NC
Chicago (Midway), IL
Chicago (OHare), IL
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Guadalajara, Mexico
Honolulu, HI
Houston (Intercontinental), TX
Las Vegas, NV
Long Beach, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Los Cabos, Mexico (2017)
Maui (Kahului), HI
Mexico City, Mexico
Minneapolis, MN
New York (JFK), NY
Ontario, CA
Orange County, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Portland, OR
Salt Lake City, UT
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Washington, D.C.

Please use SMF Flight Search to find nonstop and direct flights to your destination or return.


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Sacramento International Airport / SMF - the definitive thread

Old May 16, 2017, 10:36 pm
  #106  
 
Join Date: May 2012
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Flew Jetblue two week ago out of/in to Terminal A. Saw while picking up a friend yesterday that JetBlue was now in Terminal B. Don't see any news about it and the website still lists JetBlue at A but flights are showing out of B. Anyone know if JetBlue is now permanently in Terminal B?
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Old May 16, 2017, 10:38 pm
  #107  
 
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Originally Posted by iamflyer
Flew Jetblue two week ago out of/in to Terminal A. Saw while picking up a friend yesterday that JetBlue was now in Terminal B. Don't see any news about it and the website still lists JetBlue at A but flights are showing out of B. Anyone know if JetBlue is now permanently in Terminal B?
Answered my own question, from jetBlue's website:
*Due to maintenance, JetBlue will temporarily operate from Terminal B beginning May 10, 2017. As always, be sure to check the status of your flight before heading to the airport.
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Old May 17, 2017, 7:48 am
  #108  
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Originally Posted by iamflyer
Answered my own question, from jetBlue's website:
Thank you! To highlight what you shared:

*Due to maintenance, JetBlue will temporarily operate from Terminal B beginning May 10, 2017. As always, be sure to check the status of your flight before heading to the airport.
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Old May 17, 2017, 8:53 am
  #109  
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Originally Posted by iamflyer
Flew Jetblue two week ago out of/in to Terminal A. Saw while picking up a friend yesterday that JetBlue was now in Terminal B. Don't see any news about it and the website still lists JetBlue at A but flights are showing out of B. Anyone know if JetBlue is now permanently in Terminal B?


Thanks for posting this here
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Old Jun 5, 2017, 3:56 pm
  #110  
 
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Sacramento Bee reports that the planned Hyatt property at SMF just fell through again due to financing problems. That means it will be several years, at the earliest, before we see an on-site hotel again.
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Old Jun 5, 2017, 8:24 pm
  #111  
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Originally Posted by Big4Flyer
Sacramento Bee reports that the planned Hyatt property at SMF just fell through again due to financing problems. That means it will be several years, at the earliest, before we see an on-site hotel again.
Le sigh
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Old Jun 5, 2017, 8:37 pm
  #112  
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Originally Posted by PV_Premier
Le sigh
It is Sacramento. It is either El sigh, or La sigh.
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Old Jun 11, 2017, 10:40 am
  #113  
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Terrible news about la Hyatt (:el suspiro .

And more interesting information: it appears soon after Memorial Day TSA began requiring passengers remove reading material (books, magazines, etc.) and personal food items from carry on and place them in inspection bin trays a la laptop.

When asked, a screener replied "I don't know, it's new".

Link to Sacramento Bee article by UCD Professor Julie Sze, 11 Jun 2017.
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Old Jun 11, 2017, 11:36 am
  #114  
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Originally Posted by JDiver
Terrible news about la Hyatt (:el suspiro .

And more interesting information: it appears soon after Memorial Day TSA began requiring passengers remove reading material (books, magazines, etc.) and personal food items from carry on and place them in inspection bin trays a la laptop.

When asked, a screener replied "I don't know, it's new".

Link to Sacramento Bee article by UCD Professor Julie Sze, 11 Jun 2017.
I've flown in and out several times since "after Memorial Day" and observed no such policy change. Ymmv.
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Old Jun 11, 2017, 2:25 pm
  #115  
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Originally Posted by JDiver
And more interesting information: it appears soon after Memorial Day TSA began requiring passengers remove reading material (books, magazines, etc.) and personal food items from carry on and place them in inspection bin trays a la laptop.

When asked, a screener replied "I don't know, it's new".

Link to Sacramento Bee article by UCD Professor Julie Sze, 11 Jun 2017.
There is extensive discussion of this pilot program in the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum:
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Old Aug 29, 2017, 7:32 am
  #116  
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Midnight arrival into SMF this weekend. Corporate rates at the Four Points / Homewood Suites / Hampton Inn / Springhill Suites / etc. are all roughly the same.

Any real difference? The promo at Hilton right now is better (double points) if all else is equal (sadly the SPG triple points requires a 2 night stay and this is just a one night stay).

Airport shuttle is key and hopefully one that doesn't require a long wait since we'll be exhausted after going RDU - SEA - SMF.
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Old Aug 29, 2017, 7:58 am
  #117  
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Originally Posted by Duke787
Midnight arrival into SMF this weekend. Corporate rates at the Four Points / Homewood Suites / Hampton Inn / Springhill Suites / etc. are all roughly the same.

Any real difference? The promo at Hilton right now is better (double points) if all else is equal (sadly the SPG triple points requires a 2 night stay and this is just a one night stay).

Airport shuttle is key and hopefully one that doesn't require a long wait since we'll be exhausted after going RDU - SEA - SMF.
How long are you staying at the hotel? If it's just one night on arrival it makes little difference. For a longer stay I'd choose the Four Points. If you don't want to wait for the shuttle, Uber would be $8 or so to that area. Many of the Natomas area hotels share shuttles among properties. I don't remember if any of those you listed have "dedicated" shuttles.
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Old Aug 29, 2017, 9:09 am
  #118  
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Originally Posted by PV_Premier
How long are you staying at the hotel? If it's just one night on arrival it makes little difference. For a longer stay I'd choose the Four Points. If you don't want to wait for the shuttle, Uber would be $8 or so to that area. Many of the Natomas area hotels share shuttles among properties. I don't remember if any of those you listed have "dedicated" shuttles.
Okay cool - this is just a quick overnight. Heading up to Tahoe when we get up the next morning but flights + hotel (and car for that matter) were significantly cheaper going into/out of SMF vs. RNO for this weekend (likely due to Labor Day).

We aren't picking up the car until the next morning since our flight from SEA doesn't land until 1155pm so I think we are SOL with getting the car on arrival (National looks like it closes at midnight) so we will need to get back to the airport to get it the next morning.

Last edited by Duke787; Aug 29, 2017 at 9:54 am
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Old Aug 29, 2017, 9:38 am
  #119  
 
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Fantastic News for us SMF flyers. Southwest just announced new nonstop service to 5 additional cities starting next spring (March-May): Cabo San Lucas, Austin, St Louis, New Orleans, and Orlando.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/tra...169716642.html
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Old Aug 29, 2017, 10:09 am
  #120  
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Originally Posted by Duke787
We aren't picking up the car until the next morning since our flight from SEA doesn't land until 1155pm so I think we are SOL with getting the car on arrival (National looks like it closes at midnight) so we will need to get back to the airport to get it the next morning.
National doesn't close at midnight, but they do close for a few hours after the arrival of the last flight. You should be fine to pick it up if you want to, as there are a few other flights that arrive after midnight (ie, UA from both LAX and SFO at 12:30am).

If your flight was heavily delayed you might run the risk of not being able to get it, but I doubt you'll be the last one in as AS tends to run a pretty on time operation to and from SEA.
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